The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-07-02


my presence any reason for his; and yet
and yet
Well, in a minute he was off, and in another
Il don't know to this day how it came about,
but had taken his place, and he was walk
ing by my side, as | slowly moved along
OF course it couldn't be the field path now,
but the road, which made such ridiculous
detoH of four miles to reach the manor house,
only mile away. 1t was too hot to go fast,
and it would be unkind TO make Mr. Smith
run; so it was very long four miles, and
very slowly traversed, though | never could
have believed it could be so late when the
third bridge came in sight once more.
All, dear me? FdciLis descenses, as the
early Latin books say. | don'tt think strug-
gled much more after that, fate seemed to
show so pointedly that there was no escaping
Mr.. Smith and, after all, why should l try
to escape him? knew quite well that to be
with him was to be happy, and the life which
did not hold him would be life little worth
the living through. So there were no more
sad and solitary walks over the desolate field
path-for the only walk | took there was not
soltary-and when, on Sunday evening, !
stood up behind the dim and faded curtains
of the manor pew, and saw pair of dancing
blue eyes above the Wondering hangings of a
seat across the aisle, knew should not have
to run through the dusky wood below the
bowling green, with the fear of poachers fit.
ting through my unprotected mind.
Nor did l, for Mr.. Smith overlook me just
by the stile, and never left me till had
reached the little green doorin the strawberries.
All, that fortnight was very, very happy,
despite many falterings and fears Charley
yes. he was Charley now, and not Mr.. Smith
any longer, and | need not blush again to
hot Aaar oil Oth har mas
to me; for before the fortnight was out Char
ley and | knew the world only held each
other. How we knew that certainly was
mutual can hardly tell. 1t doesn't seem to
me, looking back, that there was ever any
formal avowal, or need for any. Day after
day, as we loitered under the fragrant shade
Il on the tricycle., and he by my side-we
grew to understand each others hearts, and
there was little need for speech.
Uncle and aunt were going to town on the
20th for day or two; and we settled that
Charley should speak to them on their return.
1t was mere matter of form, that speaking,
because we felt they had claim to the knowl-
edge while / was under their roof, and still a
minor. Legal right of course they had none,
and if they refused their consent to our mar
riage-as of course we knew they undoubtedly
would-we arranged that should leave Cop
ford Manor-house at once and take nursery
governess's place.
81 hate the though of your working for
your living, my darling?'' said Charley with
groan. "But I'll have my company in five
years, and then we can marry the next day.
Yon'll wait FIVE years for me Violet?''
Five yearsl | would have waited fifty, and
told him so. Indeed. | could not understand
how it had ever come to pass that / should
be so happy as to have won the love of this
great, strong true heart-a heart so brave
and tender, so loving and so wise. Such an
ordinary girl as |, in nothing superior to other
girls-I could not make it out at all.
was quite prepared for an awful scene
with Aunt Alicia, and am not ashamed to con-
fess heartily wished it well over. For an
infinite capacity for saying unpleasant things,
commend me to my aunt | pictured to my
selfher scornful incredulity-hcr whitening
sarcasms.
''It is your being subaltern in a marching
regiment that's your heaviest sin, mourned
to Charley; that, combined with hardened
habit of tricycling, and the finishing stroke is
your name"
81 can't change that" he responded, with
reckless frivolity. "That's one Of your
rights in matrimony, not mine. Perhaps we
might be Smith Blessingtons, after foreign
fashion. As to tricycling, l refuse to reform;
but as far as the military rank is concerned,
am quite open to improvement. | don't mind
becoming field marshal tomorrow if that
will mollify Aunt Alicia"
"Charley, you're Aippant," | gravely OBJ
served; whereat we both laughed hilariously.
And so the happy days passed by-days
that seemed all too short and sunny as to
their lfternoons-but were long enough and
dull enough in their morns and ewes to make
amends. was getting we'll used to trieycling,
and enjoyed it more and more. | used to
wonder how Charley could bear to ride his
machine to meet, and then forsake it to fol-
low the hounds on foot.
sand some one might steal it when you
were awayI' l said, with serious warning.
But he only laughed, and showed me how he
could unscrew the steering handle, and carry
it away with him, thus leaving the machine
practically useless for the time being. lsnp-
posed this to be entirely his own invention,
and accepted 1t as another proofof his clever.
ness, which transcribed the intellect of all
other men. And SO the days came and we.it,
while we walked in the light of that sunshine
which may illuminate human heart but
once in its history, though that "once" may
last to its journeys end, as 1t would with us,
we were certain. And so the month wore
out, with rustic of fresh green leaf and glory
of thousand flowers; and i game TO day
which marked the whole of both our lives TO
oome-the twentieth of June.
My uncle, who was victim to the family
disease-gout-wa in the habit of making a
dignifed visit to town four times year to ex-
hibit himselftoa great physician who made that
afflction his specially. Aunt Alicia, who had
an unexpressed idea that the world could not
manage its daily revolutions without her as
llxr antxr
momentous twentieth of June the retinuel in
addition to her maid and my uncle's man.
was swelled by the majestic butler, MIR.
Rowles. This functionary had been suffering
from deafness of late, and my aunt, who was
yery kind, in ducal sort of way, to all her
servants and dependents, decided that he, too,
would be the better for London advice, and
that one missile might be employed for the
despatching of two featherless bipeds.
Accordingly, they set off with much state
and dignity. driving into Manchester in the
family coach, which was ordered to put up at
the Kings Head, and await their return from
town the next evening.
| must say | watched the heavy wheels
lumber down the moat road without any keen
regret. There was something very pleasant
in The feeling that Copford Manor-house was,
for once and for however short period, only
occupied by the young, for the aged had lit
erally left it EN- masse. The elderly house.
keeper was away on her annual holiday, and
this exodus of Mr.. Rowles, the venerable
coachman, and my aunt's spinster waiting
Yoman left only myself and the nnder- servants
In possession.
ssPlease, ma'aml' Sally, the pretty house
maid, waylaid me as turned to re. enter the
house, Cooks duty, and which OF US Ia to
90 to the servants ball at CoPford Grange
tonight"
aBallln pricked up my ears at the word.
"Ohl is it tonight, ! don't know, I'm sure,
Sally. Who generally goes?''
sMrs. Higgs and Mr.. Rowles, ma ann they
generally settles; but missus didn't say, and
we thought we'd better ask you.
Now knew that the servants ball was the
event Of the year to all the country round
about. 1t was given by my uncle's chief
tenant farmer, and the manor-house servants
were always largely represented looked at
Sally's eager face, and remembered that she
was keeping company with the Grange under
keeper. l thought of my own ball, Just a
fortnight ago, and my weak heart melted
within me. ,,n.t...
of reckless generosity, why shouldn't you
all 60? If some of you like to go for the hrst
half, and then leave, and the rest don't mind
going late, and staying for the end, don't
know why it shouldn't be managed.